Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 13, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleNine arrested in a $11.8 million Louvre ticket fraud probe involving museum officials and guides. The scheme reused tickets for tourist groups.
PARIS, Feb 13 (Reuters) - French police arrested nine people in an investigation into a Louvre ticket fraud that may have cost the world's most visited museum 10 million euros ($11.86 million) in revenues, the Paris prosecutor's office said on Friday.
Those in custody include two Louvre officials, several guides and one person described as the organiser of the ring, it said in a statement. Police also seized almost one million euros in cash and almost 500,000 euros parked in bank accounts.
The dismantling of a potential wide-scale fraud scheme adds to a spate of setbacks at the museum - including a spectacular jewel heist, a water leak that damaged ancient books, and strikes - that have put its management under intense scrutiny.
The investigation began as the Louvre flagged in December 2024 the presence of two Chinese guides who were suspected of getting groups of Chinese tourists into the museum re-using single-entry tickets for different people.
After more than a year of checks, police identified a fully-fledged network that may have let in fraudulently up to 20 groups of tourists per day over a decade-long period while bribing Louvre officials to turn a blind eye.
The ring is suspected of having invested the proceeds in real estate in France and Dubai.
The prosecutor's office said the ring had perpetrated the same kind of ticket fraud at the Palace of Versailles, though it did not elaborate.
"The Louvre Museum is facing a resurgence and diversification of ticket fraud," a spokesperson told Reuters. In response, the museum's management has drawn up a plan to prevent cheating and punish fraudsters, she said.
A Palace of Versailles spokesperson declined to comment.
Last month the Louvre raised ticket prices by 45% for most non-European Union tourists to help finance renovations.
($1 = 0.8430 euros)
(Reporting by Inti Landauro; editing by Charlotte van Campenhout and Mark Heinrich)
Fraud is a wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. It can take many forms, including scams and misrepresentation.
A financial crisis is a situation in which the value of financial institutions or assets drops rapidly. It can lead to a loss of confidence in the financial system.
Investment refers to the allocation of resources, usually money, in order to generate income or profit. It can involve purchasing assets such as stocks, bonds, or real estate.
Insurance is a financial product that provides protection against financial loss or risk. It involves paying a premium to receive coverage for specific events.
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